Went to buy my first gun today and . . .

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RebelRed

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Delayed. :(

I went to a popular sporting goods store to buy a Mossberg 500 shotgun. Filled out the 4473 for first time, waited for about 10 min and then was told that I was put on a 3-day delay.

Being clueless, I asked the manager what that means (manager was doing my paperwork) and was told that I'd be getting a call in a few days to come get the gun.

I put my SSN# on my form as I know there are many people with my first + last name in my city (in NEvada)---even went to school with one back in the day.

However, they didn't even ask for it. WTH?

Was I flagged for first-time buyer? Don't mind waiting a few days, just wondering.

Oh, LOL, long-time reader, first time poster. :)

Curious, do I just wait around now or should I call store back in a few days? I've been reading about how NCIS is inconsistent. And if I hear nothing back and this popular store won't sell past 3 days without confirmation, do I just attempt to buy elsewhere to re-do my background check? If so, how long do I wait?

Thanks for any replies. And no, I'm not a felon, no felonies or anything like that. My last ticket was about 20 years ago. :)
 
I should ask; did payment go through for the gun?

I ask this because if you paid for it, then the "3-day delay" is probably just a 3 day waiting period (by law). I have the same thing in my state: 2 days for long guns, and 3 days for handguns. They also don't require your SSN# on the 4473; I know from experience. This doesn't sound too unusual to me.

Now, I'd say that if they didn't accept payment, you might have an issue here...
 
Don't worry, you tripped up one of their potential flags probably due to a high % potential match to someone not so nice. Just be patient they just want to make sure you are not one of the flagged guys. Happened to me on my 5th gun too. In my case the dealer called in and talked to a live person, was told wait for someone to call them. 20 minutes later, someone called asking them to verify my ID and ask for more info. Seems some idiot who just happen to have a similar name done something recently and they just wanted to double check. In the end, no drama.:p
 
I'm afraid you are at the whim of a complicated bureaucratic process that no one entirely understands- it will probably iron itself out in a couple days though. If everything proceeds normally they will call you in a few days and you can go get your gun. Otherwise, try somewhere else, it could just be a kink in the system.


Be aware that even some misdemeanor offenses (depending on the state- some DUII, assault, substance and other convictions that carry a max jail time of at least two years) can prevent you from buying guns- although it sounds like this is not the case.


Good luck
 
BluesDancer said:
I should ask; did payment go through for the gun?

I ask this because if you paid for it, then the "3-day delay" is probably just a 3 day waiting period (by law). I have the same thing in my state: 2 days for long guns, and 3 days for handguns. They also don't require your SSN# on the 4473; I know from experience. This doesn't sound too unusual to me.

Now, I'd say that if they didn't accept payment, you might have an issue here...
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You are right. However if it turns out someone with a similar name is in the database, and you don't give them a SSN, you are likely not getting that gun. SSN is used to double verify you are not the other guy. It happens that names match by co-incidence, even in the same city.
 
I don't think Nevada has a waiting period. Supplying the SSN on the form is optional but helps narrow down who you are. It sounds like there's a glitch someplace. You will need to go back to the store and find out if you were cleared. If not, you'll need to file to find out why you were denied.

I was denied once because I underpaid a traffic ticket by $5 and it went to warrant. I knew nothing about it! I got it cleared up and haven't had a problem since.

There have been cases of folks getting denied because another person of the same name & similar description had run afoul of the law
 
That is why I love my name so much. If you were to google my name I would be the only one that would show up. I can guarantee you that I am the only one in the FBI data base. I have never had to wait, not even on the first.
 
You are right. However if it turns out someone with a similar name is in the database, and you don't give them a SSN, you are likely not getting that gun. SSN is used to double verify you are not the other guy. It happens that names match by co-incidence, even in the same city.
Click to expand...

Thanks for clarifying; I honestly never would have considered that possibility. Do you recommend giving out your SSN# on the 4473? I never do unless I absolutely have to; it's a privacy thing with me.
 
Oh well. Some other points:

1. I don't have any convictions or anything, so it's not DUI, battery or whatever there.

2. I did not make payment. So, guess I'm out $25 tops.

3. I have no doubt someone with my name (just like Bob Smith or something) has done something not cool --- at least enough to trip the system. Of course, I thought that's what the place of birth was for.

As far as I know, NV has no waiting period (at least for shotgun) as she told me when she called I'd just need to come pay and walk out with the gun.

Also, I have no tickets.

What a junky system.
 
no pre-determined waiting period in my state. have filled out the yellow form countless times and usually walk out the door with my purchase. i don't provide my ss#. have had to wait the 3 day clearance a couple of times. i chalked it up more to backlog than anything.
 
It's just a shocker. My mind, thanks to reading all these fine threads, starts going all over the place as to what could be the issue.

Hopefully, I'll get a call in a few days and be done with it....for now.

It almost seems like a roulette system. I've read where people get delayed 50% of the time, most of the time, some of the time, and all sorts of stuff.

Oh well, bummer for my first-time experience so far. :)
 
Be aware that even some misdemeanor offenses (depending on the state- some DUII, assault, substance and other convictions that carry a max jail time of at least two years)
Click to expand...

Federally, anything punishable by more than one year is a prohibiting conviction. It's question number 3 on the 4473. And thanks to the Lautenberg amendment, any DV conviction curbs your 2A rights.

For those of us who've taken to pencil whipping the form after a doing few dozen (or hundred), a refresher:

http://www.thundertek.net/documents/4473.pdf

To the OP:

I asked the manager what that means (manager was doing my paperwork) and was told that I'd be getting a call in a few days to come get the gun.
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Not necessarily. Delayed just means that they need to dig more, it does not mean they will give a "proceed" within 72 hours. My delay came back a denial, when CBI had revamped their record keeping system and conveniently lost the part of my case showing dismissal of charges. Took a couple of months and a notarized copy of the proceedings to get it ironed out.
 
WHAT?!! You mean that people who don't have to wait TEN DAYS like here in the PRC don't just go flat out stark rave'n mad and just shoot people right and left? Can't be!!
 
At the background check, the result can be PROCEED, DENIED, or DELAYED. I suppose DELAYED is when they need to do more checks for some reason. I've bought three guns in Texas and each time, a delay of was imposed. I wondered if maybe it was because I'm a Green Card holder not a citizen. Each time NICS called my FFL dealer back well before the delay period was up with a PROCEED. I believe that if the delay period expires and NICS has not made a decision, the FFL dealer can automatically release the gun. So don't worry about it.
 
I have bought literally dozens of guns. I was delayed for three days when I made my last purchase. Attempted to buy on a friday and got a call the next monday to come pick up the gun. I have bought guns since then without being delayed. Relax, it is no big deal.
 
HunterBear71 said:
I have bought literally dozens of guns. I was delayed for three days when I made my last purchase. Attempted to buy on a friday and got a call the next monday to come pick up the gun. I have bought guns since then without being delayed. Relax, it is no big deal.
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Yeah, it just feels like a big deal since it's my first time and I wasn't experienced/informed. But now I know how it all works. :)

Weird thing, in my opinion, is that in my state I can just go buy the same gun from a private party without any paperwork.
 
I guess I am just one of those lucky guys. I have never gotten anything other than a proceed when purchasing a firearm. One of the guys who works at my LGS gets delayed about 1 out of every 2 purchases. I dont the reasoning behind any of it, i dont think anyone really does...lol.

Bas
 
Buck Snort said:
WHAT?!! You mean that people who don't have to wait TEN DAYS like here in the PRC don't just go flat out stark rave'n mad and just shoot people right and left? Can't be!!
Click to expand...

Well of course not, as long as the gun has less than 10rd capacity. The high cap magazine is what makes a killer.
 
Quote:
2. I did not make payment. So, guess I'm out $25 tops.
$25 For what?
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My thoughts exactly. If this was just for the paperwork, you need to find a different shop. I could see if they were transferring the gun in for you from another seller but if this is something off their rack, you are overpaying.
 
Wow, I thought it was annoying enough to spend the time to fill out the form. With both the rifle and shotgun, it took longer to fill it out than for the guy to call it in. In fact, the last time, one guy was showing me how to disassemble the shotgun, and the call took about half the time of the demo.

Mind you I triple checked the forms, and the seller checked them again, making sure I wrote things in exactly the right format.
 
I was surprised when I had to wait when I bought my No. 4 Mk 1* a couple weeks ago. I never had to wait before. But it was a Saturday.
I got a call about an hour after the gun store told me I had to wait.
So I went back.
Still haven't shot the gun yet.
 
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